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Asian Small-clawed Otter | Ocean Park Hong Kong

Mammals

Asian Small-clawed Otter

Scientific Name

Aonyx cinereus

Other Common Name(s)

Oriental Small-clawed Otter, Small-clawed Otter, Clawless Otter

Body Weight

Up to 5 kg

Body Length

Head and body: up to 65 cm
Tail: 24.6-30.4 cm

Silhouette of an otter next to a human for size comparison.

Wet otter with white whiskers standing on rocks, looking forward.

Habitat

Streams, ponds, marshes, and other wetland environments

Diet

Fish, insects, crabs, clams, and freshwater snails

Fun Facts

Asian small-clawed otters are monogamous. They live with their extended family and form groups of about 12 members.

Asian small-clawed otters forage by using their front paws to dig in mud and search under stones. They not only crush open shells with their strong and sharp teeth, but may even leave them heating under the sun to ‘cook’ and open by themselves.

Two wet otters looking forward, one in front of the other.

Otter swimming underwater, holding ice with its front paws.

Distribution

Southeast Asia, including countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and China

Threats & Conservation

Threats

Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Pollution
Climate Change

Asian small-clawed otters are threatened by habitat destruction through human development, including reclamation of wetlands, aquaculture and agriculture. Pollutants such as pesticides are carried in runoff to the habitats. Deforestation has additionally caused excess soil to silt rivers. The availability of the otters’ food also faces competition from humans.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

Red List of China's Biodiversity

Critically Endangered

CITES

Appendix I

Conservation

Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 2
Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong

Ocean Park's Conservation Efforts

The Park provides a suitable environment for this threatened species to breed, and also provides care for the Asian small-clawed otters confiscated by the Hong Kong government from illegal pet trade.

Animal Breeding in Ocean Park

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